These interviews intend to foster a non-partisan, open dialogue between artists (or journalists) and fans. Please note, however, that the views expressed by the artists are live and uncensored and do not necessarily reflect the view of the HeadCount organization.

1) Phish got Katy through the hard times of covering the Trump Campaign

“Phish really saved my butt at the end of the campaign. I was losing my mind, I couldn’t sleep, I was gritting my teeth.”

Among the tunes that maintained Katy’s sanity was “Swept Away”

2) Young people need to go out and vote

“It’s sad that more young people don’t vote. If you don’t feel represented, you should get out there, and you should run yourself, or you should rally people that believe the same thing you do.”

And that is exactly what HeadCount is about, finding young people where they are, live music events, and making it easy for them to participate.

3) Although Katy doesn’t vote, she certainly does a civic duty through journalist

“I wanted to make sure that I was as fair as I possibly could be”

Katy Tur did not vote in the 2016 Presidential election. Not because she does not believe in democracy and citizen participation, but because she was covering the election and wanted to remain fair and impartial. And while voting is important for our society, making sure that the populace is well-informed is an equally powerful form of civic duty.

4) Katy’s first Phish show was 2/14/2003 at the Great Western Forum

Full setlist can be found here. Phish.net recommends the Fee>Taste, Bathtub Gin segment from that show’s first set.

5) Fairness in political reporting can take you far

“I was reporting fairly. I mean, fair sometimes doesn’t seem fair to the other side because fair can be quite critical. But I wasn’t making things up, I wasn’t unnecessarily harsh … and the [Trump] campaign knew that.”

In a world of “fake news” and openly partisan commentators on TV, Katy Tur focuses on traditional journalism with her fair, honest, style of reporting. She has had much success, and despite public criticisms from President Trump, she garnered much respect from the Trump campaign.

6) The first song that got Katy into Phish was ‘Farmhouse’

And she admitted she first started to listen to them because of a cute boy.

Tell your friends!

HeadCount provides voter registration assistance on a strictly nonpartisan basis to any U.S. citizen age 18 or over without regard to political affiliation, race, religion, or age. HeadCount does not endorse, support or coordinate with any political party or candidates for elected office, or take positions on any ballot initiatives.